New York City man charged with killing Cambridge man at Harvard dorm

Friday

May 22, 2009 at 12:01 AMMay 22, 2009 at 10:03 PM

A 20-year-old New York City man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with Monday’s shooting death of a Cambridge man at a Harvard dorm. Jabrai Jordan Copney, 20, of New York City turned himself in to authorities at about 7:10 p.m. Thursday at the Cambridge Police Station. He has been charged with the murder of 21-year-old Justin Cosby, accessory after the fact to murder, and possession of a firearm, according to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone.

Staff reports

A 20-year-old New York City man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with Monday’s shooting death of a Cambridge man at a Harvard dorm.

Jabrai Jordan Copney, 20, of New York City turned himself in to authorities at about 7:10 p.m. Thursday atthe Cambridge Police Station. He has been charged with the murder of 21-year-old Justin Cosby, accessory after the fact to murder, and possession of a firearm, according to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone.

According to authorities, at approximately 4:48 p.m. Monday, the Harvard University Police responded to the Kirkland House located on Dunster Street in Cambridge on reports of shots fired. Cambridge Police were also notified and responded to the scene.

Cosby, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the abdomen, had left the Kirkland House and stumbled to the intersection of Dunster Street and Mount Auburn Street. He was transported to Beth Israel Hospital and was pronounced dead early Tuesday morning.

Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Cambridge Police, and Harvard Police began an investigation into the circumstances of the shooting.

Based on that investigation, it was determined that the defendant, who is not a student at Harvard University, was visiting friends at the campus. It is alleged that the defendant, along with others, confronted Cosby in a common area inside the Kirkland House. During the course of the confrontation, multiple shots were fired. One of those shots struck Cosby, resulting in his death. It is believed that the defendant and Cosby were known to one another.

The defendant and others involved fled the scene.

This investigation is ongoing into the circumstances of the shooting as well as into other suspects who may have been involved.

The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant District Attorney and Senior Trial Counsel Daniel Bennett.